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Buffalo Community Development Agencies Awarded More Than $120,000 in Grants from M&T Bank

BUFFALO, N.Y.—M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB) today announced $120,000 in grants to five Buffalo-area not-for-profits to focus on neighborhood renewal efforts. 

“In addition to the high-profile economic development projects underway near the waterfront and on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, it’s also important for the private sector to invest in Buffalo neighborhoods. By supporting our local not-for-profit agencies we can help residents and small businesses across the region have the tools and resources needed to help more Buffalo neighborhoods participate in the city’s redevelopment,” said M&T Bank Western New York Regional President Jeff Wellington.

The following Buffalo not-for-profits scheduled to receive grants are: 

  • Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) – A $45,000 investment to support LISC’s Building Sustainable Communities Initiative, a revitalization strategy of three city neighborhoods helping to improve housing, commercial spaces and family financial opportunities, as well as LISC’s MetroEdge study, an on-the-ground market assessment of Bailey Avenue to highlight investment potential for creating new businesses and supporting existing businesses. The donation was part of a 3-year commitment of $135,000.
  • Belmont Housing Resources for WNY – A $20,000 grant to support rental and homeownership counseling, financial education and asset building workshops, starter tool-kits for first-time homebuyers, as well as the building and restoration of affordable housing  throughout Buffalo’s East Side. A HUD-certified housing counseling agency, Belmont’s 2014 pre-purchase, reverse mortgage, foreclosure prevention, and financial education programs have helped 1,050 individual households obtain or retain their homes.
  • Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood Housing Services / HomeFront, Inc. – A $20,000 investment to support an owner-occupied housing rehabilitation program and expand monthly housing counseling and education programs to homeowners and first time home buyers in need of assistance on Buffalo’s East Side. Topics include homebuyer education, landlord readiness and personal financing tips. M&T Bank volunteers will help conduct the workshops.
  • People United for Sustainable Housing (PUSH Buffalo) – A $20,000 investment for PUSH Buffalo to further combat abandonment and blight by renovating two vacant houses on Buffalo’s West Side, located at 16 Winter St. and 236 Normal Ave., into high-quality and energy efficient homes. Part of this investment will include job training for 83 low-income individuals for careers in green construction and weatherization-related fields.
  • Habitat for Humanity Buffalo – A $15,000 donation earmarked for Habitat’s 98 Thatcher Ave. property, one of three underway in Buffalo’s East Side community of 144 Habitat houses. Specifically, M&T’s support will help purchase the building materials needed to rehab the home. Over the years, Habitat Buffalo has helped to build safe, decent and affordable housing for more than 250 families in the Buffalo community.

PUSH held a formal announcement ceremony on December 9, 2014 at their 16 Winter Ave project. “We are building a green, affordable home for a local family, while at the same time developing the local workforce by training men and women from the neighborhood in cutting edge construction and green infrastructure technology. The training is a critical piece of PUSH’s holistic approach to building a resilient community, and we are grateful to M&T for their generous support and their continued commitment to the WNY community,” said PUSH Buffalo Development Director Rahwa Ghirmatzion.

“These agencies are increasing the supply of housing people can afford, improving access to education and jobs, and working to foster safer neighborhoods, which has a real and measurable impact on people’s lives,” said Western New York Community Reinvestment Officer Brad Dossinger. 

With these gifts, M&T Bank has provided a total of $1,668,000 in support to Buffalo-area neighborhood development and community service agencies over the last two years.

About M&T
M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, N.Y. M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank.

©2014 M&T Bank. Member FDIC.

Media Contact: 

Julia Shanahan
(716) 842-5385
jshanahan@mtb.com